JPMorgan upgrades Croda International stock to Overweight on valuation

Published 30/07/2025, 08:18
JPMorgan upgrades Croda International stock to Overweight on valuation

Investing.com - JPMorgan has upgraded Croda International (LON:CRDA) (OTC:COIHY) from Neutral to Overweight with a price target of GBP36.00, following a 10% stock decline despite an in-line first-half 2025 earnings report. According to InvestingPro data, the stock has fallen nearly 11% in the past week and is currently trading near its 52-week low, suggesting potential value opportunity based on Fair Value analysis.

The significant share price drop occurred Tuesday while the broader sector fell only 1%, despite Croda maintaining its full-year 2025 guidance. JPMorgan attributes the market reaction to concerns about competitive pressures and potential regulatory uncertainty in the company’s pharmaceutical business. InvestingPro analysis shows the company maintains strong financial health with a "GOOD" overall rating and liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations with a current ratio of 2.63.

The upgrade comes as JPMorgan believes market pessimism has become excessive, noting Croda has successfully regained volume through tactical price cuts over the past 18 months. The firm points out that most price declines reflect the pass-through of lower raw material costs rather than fundamental business weakness.

JPMorgan highlights that Croda has maintained strong gross margins at 45%, which ranks among the best in the sector. This margin strength persists despite the competitive environment in the company’s legacy consumer business. The company’s impressive dividend track record, maintaining payments for 34 consecutive years with a current yield of 4.05%, further demonstrates its operational resilience. Get more insights and exclusive financial metrics with InvestingPro, which offers 8 additional ProTips for Croda International .

The investment bank acknowledges ongoing competitive challenges in Croda’s consumer business, which it had previously flagged in research notes dating back to February 2022, but now sees the risk-reward balance as favorable at current valuation levels.

In other recent news, Kepler Cheuvreux has initiated coverage on Croda International with a Reduce rating. The firm has set a price target of GBP28.40 for the company. This decision comes amid a notable decline in Croda International’s earnings and profit margins. The research firm highlighted that this downturn contrasts with the performance of similar companies in the industry. Investors are advised to consider these factors as they evaluate their positions. This update is part of the latest developments concerning Croda International.

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